Chatrel Background
The governing members of the Tibetan Freedom Movement convened its preliminary General Assembly in Dharamsala on July 30, 1972. One of the landmark decision was the tabling and passage of a resolution pertaining to the procedures for payment of Chatrel, a monthly voluntary contribution to the Central Tibetan Administration by all Tibetans.
It was resolved during the meeting that to look after the present and future welfare of Tibetan people, a firm and stable government was a must and that this would only be possible if a regular source of finance could be arranged. Therefore, meeting delegates resolved that beginning from August 1, 1972 every Tibetan above the age of six would be required to make annual contributions in the form of Chatrel as per rate stipulated.Those who are employed is required to pay additional chatrel based on a certain percentage of monthly salary. Meeting delegates also viewed the payment of annual Chatrel as signifying the recognition of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the legitimate representative of all Tibetans.
On the basis of the resolution passed in the July 30, 1972 meeting of the Tibetan Freedom Movement, the 11th Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputy formally adopted a law on the Chatrel in its April 1, 1992 meeting. The payment of Chatrel is a responsibility of all Tibetans as enshrined in article 13 of the Charter of the Tibetans in exile.
Green Book
Tibetans contributing Chatrel are issued a Green Book. This book has over the years in effect become the passport of the exiled Tibetans to claim their rights from the CTA. Also in future it will become a base to claim Tibetan citizenship. Today, it is used for school admission, school or university scholarship, and employment within the exiled community. Payment of the voluntary contribution is a condition to gain voting rights in parliamentary elections.
Goals and Needs:
The existence of Chatrel symbolizes the Tibetan people’s recognition of CTA as their legitimate representative. Chatrel payment exhibits Tibetan people’s support for CTA’s financial needs until Tibet regains freedom. Chatrel funds is an important source of revenue for CTA and it goes towards supporting various projects and activities benefiting the exiled Tibetan community.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q:1 I want to make my Chatrel Contribution online, how to begin?
Ans. Download the iOS App or Android App named “Chatrel” from the App Store or Play Store respectively and login there. The website and apps are built to accept Chatrel Contributions online.
Q:2 Are the websites and apps safe to access?
Ans. The websites and mobile apps are completely safe. The website is SSL secured and Chatrel contribution transactions are carried on via PayPal. Moreover, we are not collecting any personal details; we are just doing verification checks for authentication when you access the website and app to login.
Q:3 What do I need to log on the website or app?
Ans. Before logging you inside, the website and app will perform a verification check for authentication. It will ask you for your registered Gmail ID, Green Book ID, and Date of Birth. Your Gmail ID must be linked with your Green Book ID. The authentication process is utmost important considering the security perspective for this project.
Q:4 I do not have my Gmail ID linked with my Green Book ID, but I want to make Chatrel contributions. Can I do that?
Ans. No. As already mentioned, the Gmail ID must be linked with your Green Book ID. You can get it linked by filling the form at the link here
Once the details are submitted, the CTA Team shall update your details and then you can perform the login.
Q:5 Is this Google form safe and secure? Will this be shared anywhere?
Ans: Yes, Google Forms responses are stored in a worksheet that can only be accessed through an authorized Google account holder. The information collected is used only for the online Chatrel payment registration process.
Q:6 I have logged on the website/app. Now, where do I make the contribution?
Ans: The website as well as the apps have a “Self Chatrel” screen. You can see your pending dues there and make your Chatrel contributions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ... Continued
Q:7 I have made successful payment. Do I get a receipt for that?
Ans: Yes. On each successful payment, an email will be sent to your registered Gmail ID with a payment receipt attached. This is a valid proof of your contribution. As of now, we suggest that online users should print the Chatrel receipt and he/she must visit the Tibetan association at your own convenience for manual update on respective Greenbook. Tibetan Association will verify the Chatrel online receipt before the manual update on the Green book.
Q:8 While making my Chatrel contribution, I was unemployed, so I did not pay Salary amount. But now I have a job. Can I still contribute my salary contribution?
Ans: Yes. Even if the basic Chatrel is paid and employed contribution is pending, you can always login, pay and clear that if the next year has not yet kicked in.Q:9 I have no pending dues, but I still want to contribute. Can I do that?
Ans: Yes. You can always make an additional donation through the ‘Self Chatrel’ screen. You will get the receipts for all such donations too.
Q:10 I do not have a PayPal account. Can I pay with my debit or credit card?
Ans: Yes. You can either pay through PayPal account or simply do a guest checkout through your debit or credit card. While making the payments, a convenience fee will be added for PayPal.Q:11 Can I contribute only for myself or others too?
Ans: You can make contributions for as many people you like. The website and app have a screen called “Friends & Family”. You must enter the Green Book ID and Date of Birth of your friend/family member/relative etc for whom you want to make contribution. Upon successful verification, you will see the system calculated Chatrel contributions on year basis. You can make contributions and receipts with their names and GB ID will be generated. This receipt will be sent to the logged in user’s Gmail ID and the same receipt will be in user profile for download/print.
Q:12 There seem to be some calculation error in my pending dues. What should I do?
Ans: The website and the app have a screen called “Raise A Dispute”. Upload the copy/photo of your last Chatrel receipt, attach and send. An email will be sent to chatrelonline@tibet.net The CTA Team will get in touch with you.
Q:13 I am a European resident and I also want to pay my yearly Chatrel online. Can I fill this form?
A: No, for now we are focusing on North America , the Pilot location.
Q:14 Do we have to go to the Tibetan association or community every year with the receipt to get it updated on the Green Book ?
Ans: No, you can keep the receipt as a record and get it updated on the Greenbook at your own convenience. In other words, whenever you would need to go to Tibetan community/association for any of your own tasks, you can update it then.
Q:15 How will the Tibetan community/association verify the online payment when we go with the receipts to get it manually updated on the greenbook ?
Ans: There will be a QR code on the receipt. Scanning the QR code using any of the scanner apps (for example “Barcode scanner “) will display the data such as your Greenbook no and last date of payment. They can also use friends and family features in chatrel online app/website to check the chatrel contributions status.
Q:16 Can I still pay in person to Tibetan Associations?
A: Yes, we will be keeping the offline chatrel contributions as well.
Note: If you need quick action, follow up and have further questions then please email to
chatrelonline@tibet.net. we will try our best to process your request ASAP.
Here in LA, Please contact Namgyal Wangdu La @(714)-579-5106